EHP fruit buyer dies

THE sole proprietor of New Guinea Fruit Company James Douglas Watson passed away after a brief illness in Goroka last week.
Watson, 56, passed away at the Goroka Base Hospital last Wednesday while waiting for duty officers at the hospital to attend to him.
His body is now at the Glenrowen Funeral Home in Goroka and will be flown to Port Moresby on the weekend to be cremated.
As per his wishes, his ashes will be taken back to England, his country of origin, according Niugini Guinea Fruits sales and marketing manager Michael Lupauve.
Watson came to Eastern Highlands in the early 1980s and settled at Arikayufa village in the Unggai-Bena district, 7km south of Goroka town and formed his company, growing, buying and processing fruits into various products including brewing alcohol products.
His operation grew and he moved to Goroka town main market and 6-Mile outside Goroka town.
He also expanded to Lae city and opened up a warehouse.
One of his popular alcohol products to date is the Live Lave fruit wine alcoholic drink while the others are fruit jam, honey and dried fruits.
His products are now found in nearly all the main towns of PNG and some overseas countries, including Australia.
Lupauve said Watson also got heavily involved in funding establishments of water supply, roads, classrooms for schools and rural electrification projects for local communities around Goroka over the past five years.
He invited Education Minister James Marape to open a K66,000 double classroom he funded for Notofana Primary School on June 9.
His operation nationwide was shut down this week in respect of his passing, a funeral service will be held at Arikayufa village on Friday.
Hundreds of mourners flocked to his 6-Mile factory covered in mud in respect of Watson who became a naturalised citizen few years ago.
He is survived by his wife Aumani of Arikayufa village, three daughters and a son, all grown up.